Gophers commit Howie Johnson breaks Minnesota high school football record

Johnson continues to dominate Minnesota high school football.

Gophers DL coach Dennis Dottin-Carter (furthest left) with Howie Johnson (second from left), new DC Danny Collins (second from right) and new LBs coach and Mariano Sori-Marin (furthest right). | Picture via: @Howie_Johnson92 (X)

Gophers commit Howie Johnson is having a dominant senior season at Forest Lake High School, and he just set the Minnesota high school record for most career sacks and tackles for loss on Friday.

There you have it! @Howie_Johnson92 pic.twitter.com/24hE3BYcyf

— Justin_Johnson_Lifts (@AlphaMike_JJS) October 25, 2025

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Standing at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds, Johnson has been verbally committed to the Gophers since June 18, 2024. He continues to rise up recruiting ranking lists, and 247Sports views him as a four-star prospect. He's the 239th-best player in the class of 2026 and the No. 2 player in Minnesota, according to the site.

According to MN Football Hub, Johnson had 87 total tackles last season as a junior with four sacks and 32 TFLs. In nine games this season, he has 60 total tackles, 23 TFLs and six sacks. He now has 86 TFLs and 19.0 sacks in his high school career.

Johnson is one of three highly-touted in-state prospects who opted to stay home and play for the Gophers, along with Jackson County Central's Roman Voss and Rocori offensive lineman Andrew Trout. He committed to Minnesota before he got an offer from any other school.